Fred Carter has served as the president of Francis Marion University since 1999. Previously, he served as the chief of staff to Governor Mark Sanford, the executive director of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board, and the senior executive assistant to South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell. He has also taught on the faculties of the College of Charleston, the University of Central Florida, and Western Kentucky University.
Carter received his BA degree from the University of Central Florida and was the recipient of its distinguished alumnus award in 1999. He earned his MPA and PhD degrees from the University of South Carolina and was recognized as its distinguished graduate alumnus in 2006. He has authored five books and numerous juried chapters and articles. Currently, he chairs the Governor’s Graduate Medical Education Council and the South Carolina Commission for International Cooperation and Agreements. He also serves on the board of trustees of the South Carolina Research Authority, the board of directors of MUSC Health-Florence Medical Center, and the Northeastern Strategic Alliance.
His service has been recognized by the National Governors’ Association (Distinguished State Executive Award), the American Association of University Professors (Ralph Brown Award), the S.C. Chamber of Commerce (Public Servant of the Year Award), the International Federation of German-American Clubs (Lucius Clay Award), and the S.C. Humanities Council (Governor’s Award in the Humanities).
He is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.